Food mixer



J. N. POLIVKA Er AL Nov. 4, 1952 FOOD MIXER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1950 Nov. 4, 1952 J. N. PoLlvKA ET AL F'OOD MIXER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1950 /N VEN 70H5.'- .JOHNV N. PoLlvKA GEORGE T. SCHARFENBERG N21." 4, 1952 J. N. PoLlvKA Er AL 2,616,674

FOOD MIXER Filed Jan. 3, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i JoHN N. PoLlvKA GEQRGE T. ScHARFENBl-:RG

BY c. 5M

A TTONNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1.952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOD MIXER J ohnv N. Polivka and George T. Scharfenberg, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to General Mills, Inc.,` a corporation of Delaware Application January 3, 1950, Serial No. 136,571

The present invention relates to household food mixers and particularly to an improved combination of novel features in such a mixer.

Food mixers currently available `to the kconsumer are generally of the type in which a motor and gear casing unit is mounted above a mixing bowl and is provided with beaters projecting downwardly into the bowl. Because of the relatively high location of the motor, this type of mixer tends to require substantial shelf height for storage purposes and is also relatively topheavy and unstable. Furthermore, these mixers are often provided with means to tilt the motor and gear casing upwardlyv to remove the beaters from the bowl. If the mixer is tilted in this manner while the motor is operating, the beaters will continue to rotate and will throw portions of the material being mixed out of the bowl. While lsome attempts have been made to avoid these defects of the prior art by changing the location and arrangement of the motor and the general design of the mixer, none of these attempts, so far as we are aware, has been developed with any degree of commercial success.

Furthermore, many of the existing food mixers have speed control kmechanism and indicating scales which are diflicult to adjust and observe during normal operation- Also, while various power take-01T arrangements have been proposed in the past, it is not feasible in an overhead mixer of ordinary construction to provide a direct power take-off operating at high speed for connection to a device of the bottom drive type such as a blender.

With these defects of the prior art in view, it is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an improved location and arrangement of the parts in a household food mixer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved mixer in which the motor is located relatively close to the base with the motor shaft oriented in a substantially vertical position.

A further object is the provision of an improved motor location and arrangement in which the motor, with its shaft substantially vertical, is located in a housing or pedestal at the side oi the usual mixing bowl, the entire housing including the motor being tiltable to a retracted position in which the beaters can be removed from the bowl. Still another object of the invention is to provide a food mixer in which the beater is of the planetary type and in which a movable clamp is provided to hold the bowl firmly in position.

Still another object is a food mixer in which 2 the beater supporting casing is resiliently urged to a retracted position in which the beaters are removed from the bowl.

A further object is a mixer in which the beater unit is urged toward a retracted position with respect tothe bowl and in which a latch is provided for holding the beaters in operative position. Another object is a mixer of this type in which a latch holding the beaters in operative position, and a clamp holding the bowl rmly in place may be operated simultaneousli7 to release the bowl and permit the beater to move to retracted position.

A further object is the provision of a mixer in which the motor is mounted with its shaft in a vertical position and with a direct power take-ofi at the upper end of the shaft for operation of a blender or similar device.

A further object is the provision of an automatic switch in a mixer of the tilting head type, which will automatically stop the operation of the beaters when the head is tilted to withdraw the beater from the bowl.

Another object is the provision of a mixer with an improved location and arrangement of the speed control mechanism and speed indicating scale.

Another object is the provision of a mixer in which the motor is located in an upright housing at the side of a mixing bowl support, with the lower part of the housing rigidly connected to the base, and with the upper portion of the housing, including the motor, being pivoted for tilting movement between operating and retracted positions.

A further object is the provision of a mixer of improved and economical construction in which all the parts are accessible for adjustment through a readily removable cover member.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specication in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is described.

lIn the drawings which form a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a side view, with portions broken away and other portions shown in section, of an improved household food mixer according to the invention. I

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 constitute an exploded view of the removable cover, the motor housing and gear casing, and the base and support respectively.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 4 showing an alternate form of bowl clamping mechanism.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1, the mixer includes a supporting base 29 having a downwardly extended peripher-al flange 22 and supporting legs 24. The legs 24 space the lower edge of the flange 22 slightly above the surface of a table.

28 or other support in order to provide an air space or ventilation opening 26 through which air may be exhausted from the motor housing in the manner to be described.

At one end of the base 26 this a bowlsupport 38 which is recessed downwardly as shown at 32 from the upper surface vof .base `2(| -in order to accommodate the base 34 of a mixing bowl 36. Bowl 36 is preferably provided with a handle 31 for convenience in manipulation.

In order to hold the bowl firmly inoperative position, suitable clamping -xnechanism'-1is provided. This mechanism includes a clamping flever 38 which extends substantially longitudinally of the base and is pivoted to the base by a bolt 46 threaded into a boss 42 on the underside of the base. One end of the clamp-ing lever'38 is upwardly offset and projects through a slot 44 in the front skirt portion of the base. An operating knob 46 on the projecting end of lever 38 may be operated by the user to release the clamp.

Clamping lever 38 is provided with means normally urging it toward bowl clamping position. In the example shown, this means is'in the form of a spring 48 located beneath the clamping member and support and fastened at one end to a stud 56 on clamping lever 38, and at `the other end to a stud 52 on the support itself. Thus spring 48 normally urges the knob 46 and the corresponding endof lever 38 toward the far side of the mixer as viewed in Fig. 1.

Further details of the clamping mechanism are shown in Fig. 4. The bowl support 38 is provided with a longitudinal slot 54 to accommodatethe clamping end of lever 38 as shown. Carried by this end of lever 38 is a substantially semi-circular clamp 56 which ts above one side of the bowl supporting bottom 30 and adjacent the vertical wall of the bowl supporting recess. Clamp 56 is lined at 58 with resilient material adapted to engage the base of the bowl rmly and resist twisting and removal of the bowl. Clamp 56 is fastened to lever 38 in any desired manner,'for example by means of bolts 60.

The spring 48 thus normally urges the clampf ing lever 38 and clamp 56' to' the far side of Fig.

. 4 as shown by the heavy line position of the par-ts.

At the same time bymanipulation of knobV 46, the user can bolt the clamp against the resistance of spring 48 toward the near sideoftheV figure to a bowl-releasing position in which the mixing Vbowl 36 can be inserted or removed.

Cooperating with the movable clamp 56'is a stationary resilient lining portion 64 on the opposite vertical wall 32 of the bowl supporting recess 30. Thus the bowl base 34 -is resiliently clamped against inadvertent removal and accidental rotation after` the bowlhas been inserted and the clamping lever knob 46 released to permit ing portions 16 are provided with bearing openj ings'18 and 80 through which hinge or pivot shaft 82 may project.

vThis shaft 82 extends substantially horizontally ;andltransversely with respect to the base and is spaced above it. Shaft 82 is carried by the lower stationary housing-portion or pedestal 84 which .dotted line. position ofthe figure.

may .berecessed at its upper rear corners as shown at 86 for accommodation of the bearing portions 16 of the movable housing 66.

As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the mov- 'able housing l66 Iisprovided'with downwardly extending side walls 88- and front wall 92 which overlap the sidewalls 98 and front wall 94 of pedestal 84 when the housing is in the operative position shown in heavy lines in Fig. l. This overlap yis provided in order that the housing 66 may swing from the operating heavy line position of '-Fig. 1 to the retracted or dotted line position of the'gure withoutexposing the motor and other working parts located within the housing 66. For example, the amount of overlap of front housing wall 92 with 'respect to'front pedestal wall 94 is sulcient 'so `that when the housing 66 swings tothe retractedposition, there will beno substantial gap between' the respective wall'portions.

According to the invention, the mixer is providedk with means'normally urging the housing 66 'from 'operatingxto retracted position. As shown in Fig.. 1 the particular means provided for this purpose includes one or more compression springs 96 supported'at 'the lower end by sockets 98 in the Ybase or the side wall of pedestal 84 and held in position at the upperendby projection |66 on the side wall ofhousing 66. In the position of Fig. l, spring 96 is under. compression and therefore urges the. housingl 66 upwardly to the retracted In order to limitthe upward movement, cooperating stops may be provided on Vthe pedestal 84 and housing 66. In the present case Ithe necessary stop is shownin the -formof a cord or chain |62, the upper end of which is fastened at |04 to the side wall of housing 66, while the lower end is fastened at. |06 to the base.

In order .to hold 1 the parts .in .the .operative position of. Fig. 1, areleasable .latch has been provided. This latchincludesia locking projection or ybracket |08 fastened atv l l0 to the front wall of the movable. housing 166. A movable latch ||2 is tionary pedestal 84 and has at its upper end a .latch hook- V|.6 .adapted to 1-engage theupper sur- .faceof .projection |08 tohold the. housing 66 in f .operativeposition Springs` 96 urge the housing and projection. |08 up -against the latch hook 6, Withthe beater just` clearing Athe bottom of the ,bowlnlivoted latch ||2 Vmaybe rotated between `locked -andnnlocked positions Aand is normally .urged to the .locked .position .by .a spring ||8 fastenedat |20 .tothe upper arm of latch l I2 and fastenedat |22.|to.the.side wall of ,pedestal 84.

.-The downwardly-extending lower arm |24 of latch 2 terminates in a. flat face |26 against which'the-end .|28 of bowl clamping-lever-38 is adapted to engage. Latch arm |24 also has a horizontally extending hook or projection which ts beneath the arm |28 lto prevent inadvertent deformation or disengagement of the parts. The connection or interengagement oi portion |26 of latch ||2 and end |26 of lever 38 provides for simultaneous operation of the releasable latch and the bowl clamping mechanism. Thus when operating knob 46is moved from the bowl clamping position of Fig. 4 to the bowl releasing position at the end 62 of slot 44, the clamping lever arm |28 will engage portion |26 of latch lever I|2 and will rotate the latch from the locking position of Fig. 4 to its released position, in which hook H6 will be disengaged from projection |66 and will permit housing 66 to tilt to retracted position under the influence of spring 96. At the same time, the operation of clamping lever 46 has released the bowl 36 so that it can be removed.

In order to support the desired beater mecha-- nism in the mixing bowl as well as certain den sired food processing attachments, the movable upright housing ii is provided with a lateral sub'- stantially horizontal extension vor casing |32 which projects from the housing to a point above the mixing bowl. The outer or front end |34 of this casing |32 carries asubstantially vertical shaft |36 which is rotatably mounted in the cas ing and in this particular arrangement is centered with respect to the bowl support. Shaft is carried in a suitable bearing portion |38 of casing |32 and has at its lower end a planetary mixing head |66. This head mit is keyed to shaft |36 by a shear pin |42 in known. manner. planetary beater drive shaft idd is mounted in the planetary head `i di! and is laterally offset with respect to the power shaft At its upper end, beater drive shaft |44 has a pinion |35 which meshes with an internal ring gear M8 in the casing end |34.; Thus rotation of the power shaft |35 on its axis will cause the beater drive shaft 944i to rotate on its own axis in the opposite direction and at the same time to revolve around the axis of shaft |36 with the planetary head |159. Y

A beater |53 of any desired construction is removably attached to the beater drive shaft |44 in known manner, for example by a bayonet slot connection |52. With the parts in the position of Fig. l, operation of power shaft |36 will accordingly cause planetary rotation of beater |55) within mixing bowl 36 to agitate thoroughly the contents of the bowl.

In order to operate the vertical power shaft |35, suitable driving connections are located in the casing |32 between the motor 68 and power shaft |36. The power shaft itself carries a worm gear |55 driven by a worm (not shown) located on the outer end of a shaft 56 which extends substantially longitudinally of casing |32. Another worm gear |66 at the other end of con neoting shaft |58 is driven directly by a worm |62 on the motor shaft or motor shaft extension |54.

As shown particularly in Figs. l and 3, both the housing 66 and casing |32 are of open-topped construction. By reason of this construction it is possible to assemble the various parts of the drivingr mechanism in fully operative position and to adjust the necessari7 parts before the removablel cover of the present invention'is fastened in position. This cover |65 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is designed to provide a closure for the top openings cf both the housing portion 65 and casing portion |32. In order that various accessories and attachments may be driven from the power shaft |33 and also directly from the motor shaft |64, cover |66 is provided with spaced openings |68 and |16 which are aligned respectively with the power shaft |36 and motor shaft |6ii. The latter shafts are provided with slots |'i2 and |74 or other driving connections at their upper ends, these driving connections being accessible through cover openings |68 and lid.

At the upper end of each of openings |63 and li, the cover is countersunk or recessed as shown vin |16 and |18 respectively to accommodate novel cover fastening members according to the invention. Thus the cover retaining member |86 has an annular body portion, the lower end of which is threaded into a suporting hub |82 formed as an integral part of the gear box cover |83. The annular fastening member |66 also has an external shoulder |36 at its outer end which is adapted to iit in the countersunk portion liti of the cover opening to hold the cover firmly in position. Key slots |6 in the outer end of the fastening member make it possible to screw the member |86 into the threaded supporting hub |82 to fasten the cover rmly in place. Thus the annular fastening member |83 serves both as a means of clamping the cover |66 firmly in position over the open top of housing 66 and casing |32, and also as a bushing which ts closely around the upper end of power shaft |36 to pro vide additional bearing support for the latter. It will be apparent that the diameter of openings |68 and lid in the cover is substantially greater than the diameter of the power shaft |36 and motor shaft |64 in order that an annular space will be provided for accommodation of the fastening member |86. In the assembled position of the parts the upper surface of the cover, the top of the fastening member |89, and the upper end of power shaft |35 are substantially flush with each other to provide a smooth relatively unbroken surface at the top of the mixer.

The fastening member |63, which passes through opening Il!) and around motor shaft |6'| is substantially identical with the member |86 just described. Member |33 is threaded into a supporting boss |36 on the top of a gear box or protective cover |32 above motor 66. Thus the particular location and arrangement of the parts already described provide a mixer construction in which two power take-offs are available at spaced points on the mixer, one of the take-offs being a direct relatively high speed take-off from the top of the vertical motor shaft, and the other I being a relatively slower speed power take-off located in this case above the mixing bowl end of the casing |32. Any desired attachments and accessories may be driven from the respective power take-offs. For example, a fruit juice reaming mechanism can be mounted above the casing |37. and driven from the power shaft |36. Various fruit juice attachments of this type are well known in the art and need not be described in detail.

the removable cover 1661s provided withv a plastic insert v|84 which'tsin a recess 196 (Figs. 2 and 6) in the cover. The edges of the insert |94' and `recess A|86 are formedl as intertting or interlockcessed portion of cover |66 extends to one edge,

in this case the rear end of the cover as indicated at 280, while the other end of recessed portion terminates just short of the power take-ofi opening |68. Thus in this case, the power takeoif opening 68 is provided in the cover |66 itself. while the opening |70, or at least the upper recessed portion 'i8 'of opening i 78 is formed in the plastic insert |94.

At the rear of the mixer, the insert |94 pro- `jects beyond the rear casing wall as indicated'at 204. This projecting portion 204 has a vdownwardly extending rear peripheral iiange 206, the 'lower edge of which is indicated at 288,Y and peripheral side flanges 2|0.

'The rear edge lof the cover |66 is .cut back slightly as indicated` at 2 i2, while the upper edge ofthe rear wall of housing 66 is cut away as shown at 2| 4 to provide a ventilation opening 2'|6 at the upper rear edge of the housing 66 beneath the extention 204 of the cover insert |94. Thus a ventilation opening is provided which is substantially concealed by the peripheral flanges 206 and 2|0 of the cover extension 204. At the same time, this extension 204 also serves as a carrying or lifting handle for the mixer. Thus, with the parts latched in the position of Fig. l, it is relatively convenient for the user to grasp the extension 204 with one hand and the outer end of the casing portion |32 with the Aother hand to transport the mixer from one location to another. At the same time, the particular location of this upper ventilation opening on the rear side of the mixer, in combination with the ventilation space below the edge of base 20, makes it possible to ventilate the motor housing 66 by a downward flow of air without substantial risk of drawing dust or particles of food into the housing. When the opening 2 |6 serves as an air intake, it is located at a relatively remote point from the mixing bowl, and is also high enough so that dust from the top of table 28 will not be drawn into the housing.

In this particular form of construction, it will be noted that the recessed portion in the cover is entirely cut away from the stepped forward edge 202 of the recess to the point 2|8 near the rear ofthe cover. Thus a substantial portion of metal is providedbetween the edge 2I8 and the rear edge 2|2 to strengthen the rear end of the cover'and to be clamped in position beneath the plastic insert and annular fastening member |88. If desired, the plastic insert |94 may be adhesively fastened Within the recess |86 of the cover |66. However, the intertting ridges of the plastic insert in the recess make such cementing unnecessary, since the annular fastening member |88 will prevent upward withdrawal of the plastic insert |94, While the interfitting edges will prevent relative lateral movement between the parts.

In addition to its function in the provision of handle extension 204, the plastic insert |94 also serves as a convenient method of locating and mounting an indicating scale to show the operative conditions for which the mixer mechanism isset. As illustrated, the scale 220 extends longitudinaliy of the top cover of the mixer and includes an ofl. position, which in this case jis located' toward the rear or motor'housing portion of 'thef'mixen and a plurality of numbered steps representing different `speed adjustments and extending .toward the front of the mixer. The individual characters or indicia which make up this scale maybe provided in various ways. As shown Vin Figs.'2 and 6, the numbers, indicated at" 222, may be etched on the lower surface Aof the plastic insert y|94 and suitably colored so that 'the' scale will be visible through the upper plasticportion which remains transparent. It would'also be possible Vto provide the indicating scale on a separate sheet to be clamped in the recess between the plastic insert |94 and the remainder ,of cover |66. In any event, a convenient scale is provided which can be read easily from a position in front of the mixer or at either side thereof.

Cooperating with the scale 220 is a pointer 224 on an adjusting knob 226 mounted on the casing portion |32. This adjusting knob 226 is fastened on a control arm 228 which is slidably mounted on a rod 230'for movement longitudinally of the mixer and parallel to scale 220. The edge of the side wall of the casing portion 82 is cut away or recessed` at 232 toprovidealongitudinal slot 234 between the casing edge and the edge 236 of cover |66. The control knob 226 and control arm 228 can thus project through the slot 234 to permit the longitudinal adjustment of the knob'and control arm on rod 230.

While any desired speed control mechanism may be utilized in connection with motor 6.8, the operation of control knob 226 has been illustrated in connection with a control wire 238 fastened to control arm 228 and passing around a pulley 248 journaled on a shaft 242 at the front end of casing |32. The control wire 288 is also passed around the head 244 of a control shaft 246 which is threaded into a stationary bracket 248 in the motor housing. By reason of the threaded engagement between the shaft 246 and the bracket 248, rotation of the shaft will result in axial movement thereof in a vertical direction. Thus it is possible to move the adjusting shaft 246 up or down as the control knob 226 is moved toward the front or rear of the casing.

The lower end of adjusting shaft 246 carries an insulating portion 250 for engagement with a switch arm 252 of .the motor governor mechanism. VSwitch arm 252 carries a contact 254 which cooperates with a contact 256 on a movable switch arm 258 to make and break the motor .circuit in response to .action of the governor. The upper switch arm 258 has an opening 260 through which lthe adjusting shaft 246 projects to engage the lower switch arm 252-.v The upper switch arm 2,58 also has a lateral extension 262 f or engagementvwith the slidable collar 264 of the Agovernor unit. Since any desired form of governor construction and governor switch may be utilized, the showing of these parts is substantially schematic and is designed primarily for illustration of the general location `of the parts and the arrangement of the remaining portions ofthe control mechanism.

Thus the governor collar 264 is slidable vertically on theVv motor shaft |64 and is keyed to vthe shaft for rotation therewith. The collar 264 is carriedby laterally projecting arms 268 at tle outer endof .which are the governor Weights V2 66y lwhich in this case are also formed toserve as fan blades. `Another radial `arm 210 connects each governor'weight 266 with a sta- 9 tiohary collar 212- fastened to motor shaft |64. The arrangement of the fan blade portions of the governor weights 266 is such that rotation of the motor shaft |64 causes a circulation of airl downwardly through the housing 66, the air being drawn in through the ventilation opening 2|6 at the top rear of the housing, and being discharged beneath the lower edge of the base of the mixer. As will be readily understood, an increase in the speed of rotation of shaft |64 will cause the governor weights 266 to move outwardly and to lift the collar 264. Upward movement of the collar will ultimately cause engagement of the switch arm 262 and will lift the contact 256 to break the circuit when the particular speed is obtained for which the other switch arm 252 has been set. The position of lthis other switch arm is determined by the particular setting of the control knob 226, which in turn controls the vertical position of the insulating knob 256` against which the switch arm 252 is biased into resilient engagement.

The switch arms 252 and 258 are mounted on an insulating block |14 in known manner and are provided with means 213 and 215 respectively for connection in the motor circuit in known manner.

When the control knob 226 is moved all thel way to the rear of the mixer to the off position shown by the scale, the rotation of control shaft 246 will urge the shaft downwardly so that the switch arm 252 and contact 254 will be moved completely away fromy the contact 256 even when the motor shaft |64 is stationary and contact 256 is in its lowest position. Thus the control member 226 and control shaft 246 function both as an on-ofi switch and also as a speed adjusting control member in known manner.

According to a further feature of the invention, the mixer is also provided with additional switch means to cut oli the motor circuit automatically, whenever the bowl clamping knob 46 is manipulated to release the bowl and permit tilting of the motor housing 66 to itsretracted position. While this automatic switch may assume various forms, it has b-een illustrated as a switch of the liquid contact type shown at 216 in the drawings. This switch, of which a mercury switch is typical, is carried in a supporting bracket 218 mounted within the casing portion |32 of the mixer. A switch of this type has spaced contacts 280 connected to external leads 282 and 284. When the switch is in the heavy line position of Fig. 1,the liquid conductor within the switch envelope completes the circuit between the spaced contacts 286 so that energization of the motor 68 can take place whenever the oh-off switch, or in this case the governor control switch, is moved to closed position. Normally, the speed control knob 226 would lbe moved rearwardly to ,its off position before the bowl clamping knob 46 is operated to release the bowl and tilt the mixer to retracted position. However, should the operator forget to deenergize the motor before releasing the clamp at 46, the movement of the casing |32 to retracted position will tilt the switch 216 so that the liquid conductor will no longer bridgev the space between the contacts 280. Thus, as shown in the dotted line position of the switch in Fig. 1, the motor circuit willbe broken at this point and the operation of the beater |50 will be automatically discontinued. The particular connections by which leads 282 kand 284 and thegovernor switch leads 213 and 215 are connected in the circuit with the motor 68 are well known and need not be describecglnThustheV provisionv or the switch 216 and the automatic movement ofl the switch to oi position in response to movement of the motor housing from operating to retracted position contribute to the safety and convenience in operation of the device.

In Fig. 7, an alternate form ci clamping mechanism for the bowl is shown. In this case the mixer base 285 is substantially the same as that shown in the earlier figures. The lbowl support includes a bottom portion 288 which in this case is unbroken, i. e., which includes no slot as in the case o1' the previous embodiment. bowl support 288 is recessed below the upper surface of the base 285 and includes a substantially vertical wall portion 260. Stationary clamps 292 and 294 proJect from points substantially 1:40o apart on the circumierence of the wail 255. These hooks or lugs are adapted i'or engagement in the annular recess of the bowl base illustrated in the previous figures. I

Cooperating with these xed lugs 252 and 284 is a movable clamp or hook 295 which is spaced.

on the opposite portion o1' the circumiereiice at the midpoint of the maJor arc between clamps 252 and 254. lvlovaoie clamp 266 proiects through a slot 268 in the vertical wail portion 296 or' the recess. vv hen the clamp 266 is withdrawn from the slot and rrom the recess, it is possible to insert the bowl in the recess by engaging the iiange at the base oi' the bowl `beneath the stationary clamps 292 and 294 and letting the bowl tilt into horizontal position against the bottom of the recess 266. ihe clamp 2:16 may then be projectec. out through the slot 298 to clamp the remaining side oi' the bowl base and hold the bowl rirmly in position.

The clamp 256 is connected by a vertical arm 30u to a lateral arm sul beneath the bowl support 288. Lateral arm 302, in turn, is carried by a clamping lever 3mi which is pivoted at 366 to the base 286. 'lhe rear end 366 of the ciamping lever 364 is adapted to engage portion :lill of a releasable latch in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, the latch being mounted within pedestal 3|2 on the mixer base. 'l'he other end oi".- the clamping lever 364 projects through a slot in the iront skirt of the base and is provided with an operating knob li just as in the previous case'. rlhe spring (not shown) may again be used to urge the lever 364 to bowlclamping position in which the clamp 296 will be proJected inwardly through slot 258 to hold the bowl in place.

As described in the foregoing specification, an improved construction and arrangement of a household food mixer have been provided. This construction accomplishes the` objects of the present invention and makes it possible to produce a food mixer which is stable, easy to operate, adapted for use with a plurality of accessories, and which can utilize a large and powerful motor without sacrifice of stability or attractive appearance.

Since minor variations and changes in the exact details of construction will be apparent to persons skilled in this field, it is intended that this invention shall cover all such changes and modications as fall within the spirit and scope of the attached claims.

Now, therefore, we claim:

1. A household food mixer comprising a base, a bowl support at one end of the base, an upright hollow housing extending upwardly from the o therend of the base, a casing portion norinally,extending rigidly and laterally from an This matic movement of the switch to second position when the housing is moved to retracted position.

11. A mixer according to claim including resilient means normally urging the housing toward retracted position.

12. A mixer according to claim 10 in which the switch is a liquid contact type switch mounted in the housing for automatic tilting to off position when the housing moves to retracted position.

13. A mixer according to claim 9, the bowlclamping means including a clamp lever pivoted to the base on a vertical axis for rotation in the plane of the base and resilient means urging the clamp to bowl clamping position, and the releasable latch including a latch lever pivoted on a horizontal axis and having a portion directly engaging the clamp lever, and resilient means normally urging the latch to locking position.

14. A mixer according to claim 9 in which the bowl-clamping means includes a stationary clamp at one side of the base and a movable clamp pivoted to the base for movement toward and away from the stationary clamp.

15. A mixer according to claim 14 in which the clamps have bowl engaging portions lined with frctional material.

16. A mixer according to claim 14 in which the clamps include projecting lugs for engagement in an annular recess at the base of a bowl.

17. A mixer according to claim 14 in which the movable clamp extends longitudinally of the base and has a finger piece projecting from the end of the base opposite the housing.

18. A household food mixer comprising a base, a beater-supporting housing mounted on the base for movement between operating and retracted positions with respect to the base, a releasable latch for holding the housing in operative position, and means for clamping a bowl on the base, said bowl-clamping means being movable between bowl-clamping and bowl-releasing positions and being operatively connected to said latch thereby releasing the latch in response to movement of the clamping means to bowl-releasing position.

19. A household food mixer comprising a base, a beater-supporting housing mounted on the base for movement between operating and retracted positions with respect to the base, resilient means normally urging the housing to retracted position, releasable latch means for holding the housing in operative position, and means for clamping a bowl on rthe base, said bowl-clamping means being movable between bowl-clamping and bowl-releasing positions and being operatively connected to said latch means for simultaneous release of the latch means and movement of the clamping means to bowl-releasing position.

20. A household food mixer comprising a base, a beater-supporting housing mounted on the base for movement between operating and retracted positions with respect to the base and normally urged to retracted position, releasable latch means for holding the housing in operative position, and means for clamping a bowl on the base, said bowl-clamping means being movable between bowl-clamping and bowl-releasing positions and being operatively connected to said latch means for simultaneous release of the latch means and movement of the clamping means to bowl-releasing position.

21. A household food mixer according to claim 20 in which one of said releasable latch means and bowl-clamping means has an externally accessible manually operable portion for simul- -taneous release of the latch and clamp.

22. A household food mixer according to claim 20 in which said bowl-clamping means has an externally accessible manually operable portion for simultaneous release of the latch and clamp.

23. A household food mixer comprising a base, a bowl support at one end of the base, an upright housing portion at the other end of the base, a

horizontal casing portion extending from the upper en-d of the housing parallel to the base to a point above the bowl support, a beater drive shaft in the casing portion, a, motor in one of said portions connected to said beater shaft, an indicating. scale located on top of the casing and extending longitudinally of the casing and base. and a mixer control member mounted on the casing for movement longitudinally of the casing toward and away from the end of Ithe base at which the bowl support is located, the control member being operatively connected to control the motor speed and having indicia cooperating with the scale and visible from a. point above the casing to show the adjusted operating condition of the motor.

24. A food mixer according to claim 23 in which said scale and indicia are oriented for normal legibility by an operator looking from a point above the bowl support end of the casing and base down toward the opposite end of the unit.

25. A household food mixer comprising a base, a bowl support at one end of the base, an upright motor housing having its lower portion hingedly mounted at the other end of the base and having a casing portion extending rigidly from the upper portion of the housing to a point above the bowl support, avertical food tool drive shaft rotatably mounted in the casing, a motor mounted in the housing close to the base with the motor shaft substantially vertical and projecting above the motor, driving means in the housing and casing connecting the motor shaft and drive shaft, and a control member slidably mounted in the casing for longitudinal movement with respect to the casing and base and operatively connected to the motor for controlling the speed of the latter, said housing and casing having a common top opening through which the driving means and control member connections are accessible, and a removable cover for said opening.

26. A food mixer according to claim 25 in which said cover and casing have spaced edges defining a longitudinal slot through which the control member projects, and the control member and cover have cooperating indicia visible from above the mixer and showing its adjusted operating condition.

JOHN N. POLIVKA. GEORGE T. SCHARFENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the i'lle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,882,127 Emmons Oct. 11, 1932 2,046,784 Krause July 7, 1936 2,054,666 Van Guilder Sept. 15, 1936 2,075,851 Johnston Apr. 6, 1937 2,184,669 Hansen Dec. 26, 1937 2,270,980 Tidbal Jan. 27, 1942 2,292,566 Jordan Aug. 11, 1942 2,306,245 Duke Dec. 22, 1942 2,372,862 .Strauss et al, Apr. 3, 1945 

